Life just isn't the same withOUT one...

White Boxers: The Myths and the Facts!

Be White Boxer Friendly

Unfortunately, the White Boxer has been the cause of much controversy among breeders and owners for quite some time. We hope the information in this brief article will help dispel any myths that you have heard about the White Boxer.

MYTH #1White Boxers are rare.

FACTApproximately 25% of all Boxers are born white. In fact, some of the first foundation dogs for the Boxer breed were white. Since White Boxers do not conform to the breed standard of the American Boxer Club and the American Kennel Club, many are euthanized by breeders.

MYTH #2White Boxers develop more health problems and are sicker than other Boxers.

FACTBecause a Boxer is white does not mean that it is going to be unhealthy. No clinical evidence has been recorded showing the White Boxer at higher risk for health problems.

MYTH #3All White Boxers are deaf and are not trainable.

FACTAlthough there is a higher incidence of deafness when a Boxer is white (approximately 18% of whites), not all are deaf. Deaf Boxers can be trained using a variety of methods including hand signals, sign language, flashlights and more. Training any Boxer, hearing or deaf, requires time, patience and understanding.

MYTH #4White Boxers are "mean".

FACTWhite Boxers are not "mean". Coat color on a Boxer does not affect a Boxer's personality. White Boxers exhibit the same endearing personality traits as their darker counterparts.

MYTH #5White Boxers are albinos.

FACTWhite Boxers are not albinos. Albino dogs do not have any pigment. White Boxers are simply born with white hair.

MYTH #6

White Boxers cannot be registered.

FACTWhite Boxers can be registered with the American Kennel Club. However, they can not been shown in the conformation ring, but they can be shown in obedience.

--------------------------------------------------------

White Boxer General Information

White Boxers are not caused by genetic birth defects. Just as human hair color is the product of the combined genetics of the human parents so too is the color of a Boxer's coat a product of the genetics contributed by both the father and mother. The exclusively white coat is created when both the mother and father are carriers of the gene that makes up the white coat and the offspring inherits the white coat gene from both the father and the mother. In every way the puppy is the same as all of it's siblings, with all the energy, personality, and spirit that make them boxers.

White Boxers are not albinos. Albinos completely lack pigment. This is evidenced by pink eyes, and a complete lack of color anywhere on the body. Most white boxers have some spots on their skin (which can be seen due to their short white coats) and have some markings around their nose and mouth. Some white boxers have colored markings in their coat (brown spots around an eye or on the back etc). All white boxers have pigment in their eyes, this alone rules out albinism as the cause of their whiteness.

According to the American Boxer Club "Approximately twenty-five percent (and this is an estimation as exact records have not been maintained) of all Boxer puppies are either white or almost all white, making white puppies neither 'rare' nor 'unusual.'" Since the white coat color is recessive, both parents need to be a carriers of the gene that creates white offspring. The boxer breed standard stipulates that two-thirds of the body be either fawn or brindle in color. Because of this limitation, white boxers do not meet the breed standard and are therefore frequently euthinized at birth. Many breeders feel that white Boxers are inferior to standard colored Boxers and have more health problems that standard colored boxers and therefore this genocide is easily dismissed. The American Boxer Club does not activly discourage this behavior but it does allow white Boxers to be registered with the AKC on limited privilege.

The problem is that many local breed clubs have not adopted this same philosophy and still have by-laws calling for the euthinization of any white offspring. It is for this reason that there is much controversy over white Boxers with no end in site. It is a positive sign though that an increasing number of breeders are electing to place their non-standard boxers in pet homes rather than destroying them. It is for the same reason that there is inadequate research to either substantiate or dissuade the claims that white Boxers are more prone to problems than standard boxers. The only claims that seem to have merit is that white Boxers are more likely to sunburn and white Boxers (like many other breeds with similar loss of pigment problems) are more prone to deafness in one or both ears. Neither of these reasons provides a compelling argument for the necessary destruction of these animals.

Hopefully, with the increasing number of breeders placing these dogs in pet homes, we can finally establish some substantial research into white Boxers.

10 Quick White Boxer Facts

1. White boxers are not rare.2. Approximately 25 percent of all boxers born are white.3. White boxers are not albinos.4. White boxers can sunburn easy.5. White boxers can be deaf and sometimes blind.6. Some people have argued that whites are sicker and have more cancer but this has never been proven.7. White boxers can be registered BUT the white boxer does not meet the American Boxer Club's standard. The members code of ethics states that it is a infraction to register with the American Kennel Club a boxer of any color not allowed by the Standard.8. White boxers should be spayed/neutered.9. White boxers have the same temperment and personality as colored boxers.10. Check boxers are whites that have spots of fawn or brindle on them.